JP2007313751A - Intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus which can easily solve defective conveying of booklets. <P>SOLUTION: In the intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus 1, an image is thermally transferred on a film F based on a color scheme on a color ink ribbon R by cooperation of a thermal head 21 and a platen roller 20, and the image on the film F is thermally re-transferred on a booklet S by pressing this film F on the booklet S while heating this film F by a heat roller 23. The intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus 1 is characterized in that a booklet guiding part 61 having a guide face 61d for guiding the booklet S in the horizontal direction under a condition that one face of the booklet S spread into an L-shape is laid down, a conveying unit 100 which has a booklet inlet opening 73 for receiving the booklet S from the booklet guiding part 61 and can be drawn, and a pushing-out part 90 which is fixed on the conveying unit 100 and in which a rubber plate 77 slides along the guide face 61d of the booklet guiding part 61, are equipped. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus for transferring a print image once onto a film and then transferring the image on the film to a booklet.

  Conventionally, as a technique in such a field, a thermal transfer printer described in Patent Document 1 below is known. In this thermal transfer printer, the color ink ribbon is pressed against the film on the platen roller by the thermal head with respect to the film wound so as to be pressed against the substantially half circumferential surface of the platen roller. Then, the film and the color ink ribbon are sandwiched between the thermal head and the platen roller, and the image is once thermally transferred (primary transfer) onto the film by the color ink ribbon, and then the image on the film and the surface of the card are overlapped. The film is heated with a heat roller. At this time, by pressing the film against the card, the image on the film is retransferred to the surface of the card.

This type of printing apparatus has a stocker that stores a plurality of print media in a stacked state, and the print media stored in the stocker are sequentially fed out of the stocker and transported along a predetermined transport path. When a jam occurs and a conveyance failure of the print medium occurs, for example, an operator opens the cover of the apparatus housing and inserts a hand into the apparatus to remove the print medium causing the jam. There was a need (see Patent Document 2).
JP 2005-161824 A JP-A-10-329976

  However, if the internal structure of the housing is complicated, or if it is necessary to provide a transport path for print media in the back of the housing due to layout constraints, inserting a hand into the housing may cause a transport failure. It has been difficult to remove the print media that has become defective.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus that can easily eliminate poor conveyance of booklets.

  In the intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the present invention, the image is thermally transferred to the film based on the color arrangement on the ink ribbon by the cooperation of the thermal head and the platen roller, and the booklets are heated while the film is heated by the heat roller. In an intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus that thermally re-transfers the image on the film to the booklet by pressing the guide, the booklet is guided horizontally in a state where one side of the booklet opened in an L shape is turned down. A booklet guide part having a guide surface and a booklet insertion port that is arranged on the downstream side of the booklet guide part and receives booklets from the booklet guide part, and in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the booklet guide part A transportable unit that can be pulled out, and a pusher that is fixed to the transport unit and that slides in the moving direction of the transport unit along the guide surface of the booklet guide unit. And out unit, characterized by comprising a.

  According to this intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus, the booklets opened in an L-shape are guided in the horizontal direction along the guide surface of the booklet guide portion with one side thereof being turned down. And a conveyance unit can be pulled out in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction of a booklet guide part. Therefore, when the transport unit is pulled out, the pushing unit moves together with the transport unit. At this time, the front end portion of the push-out portion slides along the guide surface of the booklet guide portion, and the booklets remaining on the booklet guide portion are pushed out and dropped into the booklet insertion slot. As a result, even if the booklet stays on the guide surface and a conveyance failure occurs, the booklet can be easily collected by pulling out the conveyance unit, and the conveyance failure can be easily eliminated.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the distal end portion of the extrusion portion is a rubber plate extending along the extending direction of the booklet guide portion. Since the rubber plate can move so as to sweep the guide surface in a bent state, even a thin booklet can be reliably pushed out.

According to the intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to easily eliminate booklet conveyance failure.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of an intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  The intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is a fully automatic booklet printer, and after transferring a printed image to a transparent film F having a thickness of about 20 μm, For example, it is a device that re-transfers to a booklet (booklet) S such as a passport or a passbook. Such a thermal transfer printing apparatus 1 can print a high-quality image (for example, a facial photograph, a sign, or a character) on one side of the spread of the booklet S. Therefore, the apparatus 1 can perform high-quality printing, can also issue a booklet S containing a face photograph, and can improve security.

  In such an intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus 1, a booklet stocker 4 capable of stacking booklets S in the horizontal direction is arranged on the lower side of the casing 5, and the booklet stocker 4 is arranged on the upper side of the apparatus 1. A printing unit 3 for printing an image on the booklet S that is ejected one by one is arranged. The booklet stocker 4 can be pulled out in the horizontal direction. In the booklet stocker 4, the booklet S spread in an L shape is overlapped in the horizontal direction. The booklet S is adsorbed by the suction cup portion 6 at the back side of the booklet stocker 4, and the suction cup portion 6, which has been evacuated by the pump P, moves in the lateral direction, so that the booklet S is moved from the back side of the booklet stocker 4. One book is pulled out horizontally. The booklet stocker 4 can be pulled out to the front side by opening the double door type door 5 a provided on the lower side of the housing 5, and the booklet S can be replenished in the booklet stocker 4.

  The upper stage and the lower stage of the apparatus 1 are connected by an inclined lift part 7 of a belt conveyance system, and rotatable booklet direction changing parts 8 and 9 are arranged on the lower end side and the upper end side of the inclined lift part 7. The booklet S conveyed by the suction cup unit 6 is taken into the booklet direction changing unit 8 on the lower end side by the feeding roller 8a, and the booklet direction changing unit 8 is sent within a predetermined angle so as to be sent to the lower end side of the inclined lift unit 7. Rotate. The booklet direction changing unit 9 on the upper end side rotates within a predetermined angle so as to send the booklet S discharged from the upper end of the inclined lift unit 7 into the conveying unit C of the upper printing unit 3. Then, the booklet S discharged from the booklet direction changing unit 9 is transferred to the transport unit C of the printing unit 3 while the booklet S is slid by the booklet feeding claw 27. Note that the booklet direction changing unit 9 on the upper end side is in an upright state, and the booklet S is sent into the non-contact IC reading / writing unit 10 so that the IC chip embedded in the booklet S is read and written.

  Next, in the printing unit 3 arranged on the upper side of the housing 5, the recording unit (primary transfer unit) A for thermally transferring the image to the film F, and the image transferred to the film F and the booklet S are opposed to each other. Thus, a thermal retransfer section (secondary transfer section) B for thermally transferring an image to the booklet S and a transport section C for transporting the booklet S in the horizontal direction are provided.

  The printing unit 3 is provided with a film cassette unit 13 and a ribbon cassette unit 14 that can be drawn out in the horizontal direction. The film F in the film cassette unit 13 can be exchanged while being wound around a pair of upper and lower bobbins 15 and 16. Similarly, the color ink ribbon R in the ribbon cassette section 14 can be exchanged while being wound around a pair of upper and lower bobbins 17 and 18. The ink is periodically applied to the color ink ribbon R in the ribbon cassette unit 14 with one frame of three colors of meltable or sublimable yellow, magenta, and cyan (or four colors including black). Has been. When exchanging the film F or the ribbon R, the flip-up door 5b provided on the upper side of the housing 5 is lifted.

  Further, in the recording unit A, the film F is formed on the peripheral surface of the platen roller 20 by the cooperation of the platen roller (commonly referred to as “platen”) 20 and the clamp rollers 19 a and 19 b that can be separated / approached to the platen roller 20. / 4 It is wound and fixed around the circumference, and moves following the rotation of the platen roller 20. At the time of primary transfer, the thermal head 21 moves forward toward the platen roller 20, and the color ink ribbon R is pressed against the film F on the platen roller 20 by the thermal head 21. Then, the platen roller 20 is rotated forward by a motor, and the film F and the color ink ribbon R are sent downward while being synchronized, so that the first color (cyan) of the color ink ribbon R is made by the thermal head 21 in a heated state. Thermal transfer onto film F. The color ink ribbon R after the image is thermally transferred onto the film F is wound around the bobbin 18 while being peeled off from the film F after the thermal head 21 is retracted.

  Next, in a state where the film F and the color ink ribbon R are separated from each other, the film F is raised and returned to the original position while the platen roller 20 is reversed. Thereafter, while repeating the above-described transfer operation, colors are layered on the film F in the order of magenta, yellow, and black to create a desired color image on the film F. Thereafter, the clamp rollers 19 a and 19 b are separated from the platen roller 20, the film F is conveyed by the rotation of the winding side bobbin 16, and the recorded image on the film F is moved to the vicinity of the heat roller 23.

  Further, in the conveyance unit C, the conveyance table 24 moves in the horizontal direction in a state where the printing scheduled surface of the spread page of the booklet S is supported by the conveyance table 24. At this time, the booklet S is aligned with the recorded image on the film F, and is sent to the thermal retransfer section B in a state where the print scheduled surface of the spread page of the booklet S and the film F are overlapped.

  In the heat retransfer section B, the booklet S and the film F are sandwiched between the heat roller 23 and the transport table 24 in a state where the film F is superimposed on the printing scheduled surface of the booklet S, and heated to 160 to 200 ° C. The recorded image on the film F is gradually transferred onto the printing scheduled surface of the booklet S while the booklet S and the film F are conveyed under pressure by the cooperation of the heat roller 23 and the transport table 24. At this time, the film F is wound around the bobbin 16 while being peeled from the booklet S.

  The booklet S for which printing has been completed is discharged from the transport unit C, and is then fed into the booklet direction changing unit 25 while the booklet S is slid by the booklet feeding claw 28. When the booklet direction changing unit 25 is in an upright state and the booklet S is sent into the non-contact IC reading / writing unit 22, reading and writing of the IC chip embedded in the booklet S is performed. Then, after the booklet S is sent back into the booklet direction changing unit 25, the booklet direction changing unit 25 is placed in a horizontal state, and the booklet S is discharged into the stacker 26. In this stacker 26, a booklet S for which printing and information writing have been completed is stocked. Note that the booklet S in which an information writing or reading error has occurred is discharged into the reject stocker 29.

  The intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus 1 described above can also print a paper sheet (for example, a VISA sheet) G. The sheets G stacked in the sheet stocker 30 are fed into the booklet direction changing section 8 through the conveyance path 2 while being pushed up from below. Then, the sheet G is supplied to the printing unit 3 through the inclined lift unit 7 and stocked in the stacker 26 after the printing is completed.

  Next, the mechanism for feeding the booklet S from the booklet stocker 4 one by one and transporting it to the inclined lift unit 7 will be described in more detail.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the booklet stocker 4 is incorporated in a transport unit 100 including a booklet direction changing unit 8, a reject stocker 29, and a sheet stocker 30. As shown in FIG. 12, the booklet stocker 4 is a rectangular box that is long in the front-rear direction, and a plurality of booklets S are accommodated in the booklet stocker 4 so as to overlap in the horizontal direction in order from the first booklet S. . As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the front portion of the booklet stocker 4 extends in the vertical direction from the stainless steel pedestal portion 31 extending in the horizontal direction and the edge on the near side of the pedestal portion 31. An existing stainless steel front lid portion 32 is provided. The first booklet S is supported by the pedestal 31 so that one side of the spread is abutted and supported, and the other side abuts the front lid 32 and is opened in an L shape. The other booklets S are sequentially stacked with one side of the spread facing down.

  An L-shaped front end edge 35 a is formed on one side wall 35 of the booklet stocker 4. The base portion 31 and the front lid portion 32 are arranged so as to form an L-shaped slit that becomes the gate port H between the front end edge 35a. The pedestal 31 is formed with a guide port GH extending in the horizontal direction and communicating with the gate port H. When the suction cup portion 6 is exposed from the guide port GH, the suction cup portion 6 sticks to one side of the spread booklet S. The suction cup 6 moves along the guide opening GH while adhering to the leading booklet S, and is discharged out of the booklet stocker 4 through the gate opening H. The other booklets S overlapping the top booklet S are prevented from moving by the gate member 35b fixed to the side wall 35 so as to partially block the upper part of the gate opening H. As a result, only the top booklet S is pulled out from the booklet stocker 4 by the suction cup 6.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a tube 39 connected to the pump P (see FIG. 3) is fixed to the suction cup portion 6. Furthermore, a guide hole 41a is formed in the resin base 41 that holds the suction cup portion 6, and a guide shaft 42 extending in the left-right direction passes through the guide hole 41a. Further, the base 41 is fixed to the timing belt 43. The timing belt 43 is wound around a drive pulley 44 and a driven pulley 46, and a DC servo motor 48 is connected to the drive pulley 44 via a reduction gear 47. Then, the suction cup portion 6 moves in the horizontal direction along the guide shaft 42 by driving the DC servo motor 48. The suction means 6, the base 41, the guide shaft 42, the timing belt 43, the driving pulley 44, the driven pulley 46, the reduction gear 47 and the DC servo motor 48 constitute a conveying means 50.

  The conveying means 50 moves up and down by the elevating means 80. The lifting / lowering means 80 has cam followers 51 fixed to both ends of the guide shaft 42 of the conveying means 50. In the left and right side walls 52 of the frame surrounding the transport means 50, a long hole 52b into which the end of the guide shaft 42 is inserted is formed. The side wall 52 is fixed on the gantry 53.

  The left and right side walls 52a support the camshaft 54 via bearings. A pair of left and right plate cams 55 are fixed to the cam shaft 54, and each plate cam 55 abuts against a protrusion 51 b provided on the cam follower 51. A DC servo motor 56 is fixed on the gantry 53, and the DC servo motor 56 is connected to the camshaft 54 via a reduction gear 58. The plate cam 55 is rotated by the drive of the DC servo motor 56, and the cam follower 51 is moved up and down. As a result, the suction cup 6 provided in the transport means 50 is also raised and lowered. When the suction cup portion 6 is lifted, the suction cup portion 6 is exposed through the guide opening GH (see FIG. 7) of the pedestal portion 31 and comes into contact with the top booklet S. On the other hand, when it descends, it is immersed in the guide port GH.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the suction cup 6 moves horizontally to the position where the booklet S is transferred to the booklet direction changing unit 8 while sucking the top booklet S. A booklet guide portion 61 (see FIG. 9) having an L-shaped cross section and extending straight along the track of the suction cup portion 6 is disposed at the delivery position. The booklet guide unit 61 includes a horizontal plate 61 a and a vertical plate 61 b that are orthogonal to each other, and the booklet guide unit 61 is screwed to the frame of the housing 5. The horizontal plate 61a is formed with slits SL along the orbit of the suction cup portion 6. Further, a receiving surface 61c that is inclined upward as it gets away from the booklet stocker 4 is formed at the tip of the guide piece 61A that forms the slit SL of the horizontal plate 61a.

  The suction cup portion 6 moves in the horizontal direction in the slit SL, and the booklet S also moves together with the suction cup portion 6. One side of the booklet S that is opened is in contact with the receiving surface 61c, and reaches the guide surface 61d while sliding on the receiving surface 61c. The booklet S is guided in the horizontal direction as it is by the guide surface 61d and reaches the upper side of the booklet direction changing portion 8 arranged on the downstream side of the booklet guide portion 61. At this position, the other side of the booklet S is a vertical plate. It faces 61b. At this position, evacuation of the booklet S by the sucker unit 6 is released, and the sucker unit 6 descends and leaves the booklet S. Further, a driving roller 65 for sending the booklet S downward is disposed below the vertical plate 61b. The shaft 65a of the drive roller 65 is supported by the vertical plate 61b via a bearing, and the shaft 65a is connected to a DC servo motor (not shown) via a reduction gear.

  A driven roller 66 for sandwiching the booklet S with the driving roller 65 is attached to the upper part of the booklet direction changing portion 8 that forms a part of the transport unit 100. The booklet direction changing section 8 has a pair of left and right stainless side plates 67, and the left and right side plates 67 are formed with slits SH (see FIG. 7) into which the shaft 66a of the driven roller 66 is inserted. . The slit SH extends in the front-rear direction, and the shaft 66a is movable back and forth. A cam follower 69 is attached to one end of the shaft 66a via a bearing. The cam 71 is disposed in a hole having a predetermined shape formed in the cam follower 69. The cam 71 is rotated by driving of the DC servo motor 72, and the driven roller 66 can be moved back and forth via the cam follower 69.

  The driven roller 66 is separated from the driving roller 65 before the booklet S arrives, and is waiting in a state where the booklet S can be easily received. When the booklet S reaches the driving roller 65, the driven roller 66 moves forward and approaches the driving roller 65, and sandwiches the booklet S with the driving roller 65. Thereafter, the driving roller 65 rotates to send the booklet S downward, and the driven roller 66 also rotates in accordance with the rotation.

  Further, the booklet direction changing unit 8 has a booklet insertion port 73 disposed below the driving roller 65 and the driven roller 66. The booklet slot 73 is formed by a pair of front and rear resin blocks 73a. The resin block 73 a is screwed to a beam member 74 that is passed between the left and right side plates 67. A booklet S is inserted into the gap D1 formed between the resin blocks 73a from above. The resin block 73a is formed with an insertion guide surface 73b that is inclined so as to spread upward, and the booklet insertion port 73 is formed by the guide surface 73b of each resin block 73a.

  Below the booklet slot 73, a transport unit 75 extending in the vertical direction is arranged. The transport unit 75 has two timing belts 75a arranged to face each other, and each timing belt 75a is wound around a driving pulley 75b, a driven pulley 75c, and a tension roller 75d. The booklet S that has passed through the booklet slot 73 reaches the entrance of the gap D2 formed between the two timing belts 75a, and is sent downward by the rotation of the timing belt 75a. When the booklet S is completely taken into the transport unit 75, the timing belt 75a stops and the transport unit 75 holds the booklet S. The conveyance unit 75 of the booklet direction changing unit 8 is rotated by a predetermined angle by a rotation mechanism (not shown), and the driving pulley 75b, the driven pulley 75c, and the tension roller 75d are connected to the rotation mechanism (not shown) via bearings. It is attached. The rotation mechanism has a DC servo motor (not shown), and the timing belt 75a is tilted by this motor. When the conveyance unit 75 tilts and the entrance of the gap D2 between the timing belts 75a matches the entrance of the tilt lift unit 7, the rotation of the conveyance unit 75 stops. After that, the two timing belts 75 a start to rotate, and the booklet S is delivered to the tilt lift unit 7.

  A stainless arm portion 76 protruding forward is welded to the upper portion of the side plate 67 of the booklet direction changing portion 8 so as to cross over the booklet guide portion 61. A support plate portion 76 a is provided at the tip of each arm portion 76 so as to pass between both arm portions 76. The support plate portion 76a extends along the extending direction of the booklet guide portion 61, and a rectangular rubber plate 77 extending in the extending direction of the booklet guide portion 61 is screwed to the support plate portion 76a. The lower end of the rubber plate 77 is located below the guide surface 61 d of the booklet guide portion 61. The arm portion 76, the support plate portion 76a, and the rubber plate 77 constitute an extrusion portion 90.

  The transport unit 100 including the booklet direction changing unit 8 moves on a rail 78 fixed to the bottom of the housing 5. The rail 78 extends in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the booklet guide portion 61, and the transport unit 100 is pulled out to the front side of the housing 5 as shown in FIG. 11.

  As shown in FIG. 10A, the rubber plate 77 is located behind the booklet guide portion 61 in a state before the transport unit 100 is pulled out. And when the booklet S stops on the booklet guide part 61 and a conveyance defect is caused, the door 5a of the housing | casing 5 is opened and the conveyance unit 100 is pulled out to the near side. Then, as shown in FIGS. 10B and 9, following the movement of the transport unit 100, the rubber plate 77 slides along the surface of the guide surface 61d, and the booklet S on the guide surface 61d becomes It is dropped into the booklet slot 73 while being pushed out (see FIG. 10C). As a result, even if the booklet S stops on the guide surface 61d and a conveyance failure occurs, the booklet S can be easily recovered by pulling out the conveyance unit 100, and the conveyance failure can be easily eliminated.

  In particular, since the rubber plate 77 moves so as to sweep the surface of the guide surface 61d in a bent state, even the thin booklet S can be reliably pushed out.

1 is a left side view illustrating an embodiment of an intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus according to the present invention. It is a front view of the intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus of FIG. It is a rear view of the intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus of FIG. FIG. 2 is a right side view of the intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus of FIG. 1. It is a left view of a conveyance unit. It is an enlarged view which shows the conveyance means of the intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus of FIG. It is a top view of the conveyance means shown in FIG. It is an enlarged view which shows the front part of a conveyance unit. It is a perspective view of a rubber plate. The operation of the rubber plate that moves together with the transport unit is shown, (a) is a diagram showing a state before the rubber plate is in contact with the booklet, and (b) is a diagram showing the state in which the rubber plate is sweeping out the booklet. (C) is a diagram showing a state where the sweeping out of the booklet by the rubber plate is completed. It is a figure which shows the state which pulled out the conveyance unit from the housing | casing. It is a perspective view of a booklet stocker.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus, 4 ... Booklet stocker, 20 ... Platen roller, 21 ... Thermal head, 23 ... Heat roller, 61 ... Booklet guide part, 61d ... Guide surface, 73 ... Booklet slot, 76 ... Arm part 76a ... support plate part, 77 ... rubber plate, 90 ... extrusion part, 100 ... transport unit, F ... film, R ... color ink ribbon, S ... booklet (booklet).

Claims (2)

By the cooperation of the thermal head and the platen roller, the image is thermally transferred to the film based on the color scheme on the ink ribbon, and the film is applied to the booklet by pressing the film against the booklet while being heated by the heat roller. In the intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printer that re-transfers the image above,
A booklet guide portion having a guide surface for guiding the booklets horizontally in a state where one side of the booklets opened in an L shape is turned down;
A transport unit that is arranged on the downstream side of the booklet guide part and has a booklet slot for receiving the booklets from the booklet guide part, and can be pulled out in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the booklet guide part. When,
An intermediate transfer type thermal transfer comprising: an extruding portion fixed to the transport unit and having a leading end sliding in the moving direction of the transport unit along the guide surface of the booklet guide portion. Printing device. 2. The intermediate transfer type thermal transfer printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the front end portion is a rubber plate extending along an extending direction of the booklet guide portion.

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